With three games left in the regular season, Lance Lynn takes the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they take on historical rival San Francisco Giants, who fired manager Gabe Kapler on Friday.
The Giants hired Kapler in November 2019 on a three-year contract. Two years later he received a contract extension that ran through the 2024 season. It came on the heels of guiding the Giants to a historic 107 wins, their most in franchise history, in a year that snapped the Dodgers’ streak of National League West titles.
However, the Dodgers got the last laugh in the NL Division Series, and the Giants have largely regressed since that point. They need to sweep the Dodgers this weekend to avoid a losing season.
Meanwhile, Lynn enters at 12-11 with a 5.83 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in his combined time with the Chicago White Sox and Dodgers. Since being traded to the Dodgers, Lynn has a 4.50 ERA in 10 starts.
When Lynn last faced the Giants at Dodger Stadium, he logged six innings of two-run ball while collecting six strikeouts.
Lynn’s propensity for giving up home runs has still been an issue, but he has been able to limit them over his past few outings — allowing three homers over his last three starts. That came after giving up six home runs in nine innings before that.
The Giants counter with rookie Keaton Winn, who was called up back in June and missed some time due to injury through much of July and August. He is 1-2 with a 3.89 ERA over eight games (four starts).
For the Dodgers, the last series of the season has no bearing on their playoff positioning. The rivalry between the Giants and Dodgers is always notable in itself, but 100 wins are still achievable for L.A. if they take two of three over the weekend.
Manager Dave Roberts had a candid response when recently asked if the possibility of 100 wins was something he expected this season.
“Probably not,” Roberts said. “I think our expectation was to win the division, but given the division and the talent, the parity as far as the balanced schedule, it was hard to foresee this. Especially given all the stuff we had to go through. Proud of our guys. They never wavered and right now I think we’re playing some of our best baseball, so I’m really excited by that.”
The Dodgers went 24-5 during a historic August, which gave them a runaway lead en route to winning the National League West title for a 10th time in the last 11 years.
Other things of note for the last three games include Mookie Betts and his attempt to reach 40 home runs, which he needs just one more to do. Freddie Freeman is also two away from 60 doubles this season.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
DH: J.D. Martinez
RF: Jason Heyward
LF: David Peralta
3B: Kiké Hernández
CF: James Outman
SS: Chris Taylor
Giants lineup
1B: LaMonte Wade Jr.
RF: Mike Yastrzemski
3B: Wilmer Flores
DH: Joc Pederson
2B: Thairo Estrada
LF: Michael Conforto
SS: Marco Luciano
C: Blake Sabol
CF: Tyler Fitzgerald
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